PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Blueprint 2 Mashup - Eminem, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. Vinny Hopkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Antunes
vs
Hopkins

175 cm
26
155 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
167 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Bullet Proof System
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Joaquim Antunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vinny Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins misses with a straight right.
Antunes appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Antunes.
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hopkins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hopkins drives through and clinches with Antunes against the cage.
Antunes tries for a takedown but Hopkins manages to get underhooks.

Antunes has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hopkins is trying to keep an underhook but Antunes manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hopkins felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hopkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hopkins taking some punishment here, with Antunes in his half guard.
Antunes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Antunes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Antunes.
Antunes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Antunes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Antunes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Antunes prevents Hopkins from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Antunes trying to pass the guard but Hopkins defending well.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Antunes has control of the leg.
Antunes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hopkins is controlling Antunes's trapped leg to prevent Antunes from advancing to side control.
Antunes scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Antunes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hopkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Antunes.
Antunes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Antunes winds up and cracks Hopkins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hopkins is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins wants to improve his position but Antunes is controlling well.
Hopkins moves into full guard.
Hopkins is trying to keep Antunes in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes works over Hopkins with some ground and pound from guard.
Antunes is in close to Hopkins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Antunes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hopkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Antunes throwing strikes but missing.
Antunes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Antunes is looking to work some ground and pound but Hopkins has wrist control.
Antunes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hopkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hopkins being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Antunes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Antunes tries to free his leg and advance position but Hopkins is retaining full guard.
Antunes throwing strikes from guard but Hopkins blocks nicely.
Antunes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Antunes distracts Hopkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Antunes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Antunes postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins is trying to control the position but Antunes postures up.
We've been hearing good reports from Antunes's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Antunes postures up in Hopkins's guard and throws a big left but Hopkins blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Antunes dominated that round.
That's time! Antunes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hopkins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Antunes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Antunes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hopkins misses with a looping right.
Hopkins throws a left and a right that both miss

and Antunes counters with a takedown into side control.
Antunes advances to mount.
Hopkins holds on for dear life.
Antunes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hopkins tries to hold on but Antunes postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antunes with shots to the head and body - Hopkins looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antunes unloading with bombs!
Antunes throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Antunes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopkins can do to turn this around?
Antunes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Antunes lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hopkins is wriggling around trying to escape.
Antunes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Antunes punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Antunes connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Hopkins is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
BOOM! Antunes connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hopkins is still in real trouble! Can Antunes finish him?
Antunes drops a big elbow. That's hurt Hopkins! More shots from Antunes and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joaquim Antunes!
Joaquim Antunes seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated Vinny Hopkins had this to say: 'As always I can do everything through Christ my lord and savior who strengthens me. Without him I wouldn't be here tonight. Don't worry I'll be back.'.